Automatic float valve for the separation of two immiscible liquids



June 19, 1923. 1,459,486

5.v M. WHITNEY ET AL AUTOMATIC FLOAT VALVE FOR THE SEPARATION OF TWOIMMISCIBLE LIQUIDS Filed May 9, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 22 ,2. J7 J9 1 o IJ5 Z flvezm sl Gary jy: [0466033 and JZ/Z [2 565076671 June 19, 1923.11,459,486

G. M. WHITNEY ET AL AUTOMATIC FLOAT VALVE FOR THE SEPARATION OF TWOIMMISCIBLE LIQUIDS Filed May 9, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ooooooooooooooooooooo Patented June 19, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,459,486 PATENT OFFICE.

GARY I. WHITNEY AND JOHN F. FLETCHER, F GREYBULL, WYOMING.

AUTOMATIC FLOAT VALVE FOR THE SEPARATION OF TWO IMMISCIBLE LIQUIDS.

Application filed may 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GARY M. WHITNEY and JOHN F. FLETCHER, citizens ofthe opening type.

United States, and residing at Greybull, in the county of Big Horn andState of \Vyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Float Valves for the Separation of Two Immiscible Liquids, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic float controlled valves, of the typein which the float may be adjusted at will to adapt it to 0 rate betweenlayers of immiscible liquids 0 different specific gravities, anddischarge either the upper or lower liquid, and maintain a predeterminedlevel of lower liquid.

An object of the invention is to provide a float that may be adjusted tooperate with liquids of different specific gravities.

Another object is to provide a float that may be used to dischargeeither an upper or a lower liquid.

Another object is to provide a float that will automatically dischargeany excess of a desired liquid, maintaining a predetermined quantity ina. receiver. Other objects will appear upon reading the specificationand drawings.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 shows one modification of the invention in which the valve andoperating mechanism is within the receiving tank, and in which thecounterpoise weight may be placed on either side of the fulcrum of thebalance arm;

Fig. 2 is a second modification in which the valve and operatingmechanism is shown outside of the tank,-and in which the incom inliquids flow over baflles;

Tig. 3 is a detail showing how the drain pipe is rotated;

Fig. 4 is a detail showing a limit guide to limit the movement of thefloat rod; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are modifications showing a float valve used to controlthe supply pipe.

A tank or receiver 1, is provided with a valved inlet 2, and a valvedoutlet 3. Entering the tank is a discharge pipe 4 controlled by anautomatic. valve 5 of the quick Suitably supported either from thedischarge pipe 4, or the wall of the tank, is abeam 6, pivoted at 7, andarranged to move between suitable guides 8. The beam 6 is connected tothe valve 5 by .a connecting rod 10, At its far end the 1922. Serial N0.559,847.

beam 6 is of notched and graduated balance arm 12. The bar 11 may beperforated or notched at 13, and pass through a limit guide 14, theperforatlons 13 are arranged to receive one or more plus or bolts 15that serve to limit the upward and downward movement of the bar 11, andalso if desired, to lock the valve open or closed.

Upon the balance arm 12 is a sliding counterpoise 16 provided with apawl 17 to secure it in any desired position. The balance arm 12 issuitably pivoted? to a support 18 and extends beyond the support as at19; the counterpoise 16 may be laced on the balance arm 12 on either sie of the support 18 depending upon a plurality of condltlons, such asspecific gravity of the pivoted to a bar 11 the upper end counterpoise,etc. Instead of the pawl 17, the counterpoise maybe fastened by a setscrew.

To the bar 11, below the beam 6, is adustably secured a float box 20, bya set screw 21. The size of the float box will vary with difl'erentliquids, but it is preferably constructed so that when empty, it Wlllfloat on the lighter of the liquids. The box 18 preferably made ofnon-corrodible metal, and is provided with a suitable removable closure21 in the top, to afford access to the interior for the insertion oflead shot, mercury. or other weights, the box is also provlded with apassage or duct 22 through which the bar 11 asses. To increase the deadWeight of tlie box, a layer of sheet lead, 61, may be added, if foundnecessary. To the suction end, of valve 5 is a dram pipe 23, rotatablymounted in the swivel jolnt 24, the latter having gear teeth 25 arrangedthereon. Cooperating with. the gear teeth is a gear wheel 26, suitablymounted on a shaft 27, and provided with a handle 28. The rotation oradjustment of the handle 28 will operate the wheel 26 and rotate thedrain ipe 23 from its depending position to any eslred position up tovertical, as shown in dotted lines at 29, thereby enabling the removalof either lower or'upper liquid to a desired level.

All metal parts are made of non-corrosive metal, or suitably protectedfrom corrosion by enamel, etc.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the valve proper and its operatingmechanism which is suitably suspended from a I I u liqulds, dlsplacementof the float, weight of is shown. outside of the receiving tank, theconnecting rod 10 being linked direct to the balance arm 12'. Theprinciple of operation is otherwise the same. In Fig. 2 the mixed 1iuids' from the supply pipe 2 may ifdesire flo'w over baflles 65, theobject of which is to prevent splashing, and to aid in the uietseparation of the mixed li ui'ds.

The ba e may also be used in the mo ification shown in Fig. 1..

The dimensions of the apparatus would naturally vary with circumstances,but in a particular case, an apparatus was constructed of the followingdimensions:

With a petroleum distillate of specific gravity 0.843, compared withwater at F.. as standard, a sheet metal float box was constructed havingthe dimensions 6 inches by 16 inches by 24 inches. The lever connectedto the valve stem has a length of .36 inches. The weight of the rod, thebalance arm, and the counterpoise determine the amount of lead shot ormercury to be added to the float box. This float successfully operatedin the separation of gasolene and water, the specific gravity of thegasolene varying between 0.670 to 0.875, with the necessary adjustmentof the counterpoise.

.The apparatus is useful in a variety of industries in which liquidsimmiscible in each other are collected and require separating; forexample, distilling oil or other liquids with steam in which thecondensed oil and water enter the tank through pipe 2; also inneutralizing and washing operations, in which the two immiscible liquidsare thoroughly agitated in one apparatus, and then transferred to thesettling tank; or the agitation may be efl'ected in the settling tank;and also in the nitrating of gylcerine, the spent acid would collect asthe lower layer. Also in washing and separating ethyl bromide.

In operation, assuming gasolene is being distilled with steam, thecondensate will enter through ipe 2, and collect as two layers, A and.The float box 20 is adjusted with lead shot, mercury, or other fveights,until it will just float on the gasoene.

forward or backward on the balance arm 12 until the float box willcompletely submerge -in the lighter liquid, and drop'to the surface ofthe heavier. This point on the balance arm is' recorded. The float boxis counterpoise 16 may then be moved one notch towards the bar 11 toinsure rapid action, and the apparatus is ready to operate.

As the mixed liquids accumulate in the.

tank, the level of the lower one will rise and The counterpoise 16 isthen movedreaaeee upon reachingthe predetermined level, will raise thefloat box 20, thereby opening the valve 5 and discharge the excess. Thelower liquid will by this means be kept at the predetermined level.When'the upper layer of liquid becomes too deep, the handle 28 may beoperated, turning the gear wheel 26 and also turningthe drain pipe 23 toany desired angle. Pipe connections, not shown, are changed outside ofthe apparatus, to deliver the discharged upper liquid from pipe 4 to adifferent receiver. When a suflicient amount of upper liquid has beenwithdrawn, the handle 28 is again operated to restore drain 23 to itsdependent position, or to any desired position.

The limit guide 14 and pin 15 may be used as a precaution in the eventof violent changes in the rate of supply of liquids through pipe 2, andalso to lock the valve as above noted. When adjusted as above indicated,the apparatus will operate successfully on liquids varying considerablyin specific gravit without readjustment. The guide 35 in Figs. 2 and 5serves to prevent lateral or swinging movement of the float box 20.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, an additional float is used tocontrol the supply pipe 40. In this figure, the balance arm 45 isfulcrumed at 46 with a connecting rod 42 suspended as shown andconnected to a rocker arm 41, which latter controls valve 43. Anemergency valve 44 is pro-.

vided to control the supply pipe. As the level of the lower liquid inthe tank rises, the float rises and closes valve 43, the upturned drainpipe 29 having been set to remove the upper liquid to a' desired level.

In Fig. 6, the connecting rod '47 is shown suspended from the end of thebalance arm 45, and, as in Fig. 5, operates to close the valve 48 witha'rising' level of the lower li uid in the tank.

at we' claim is:

1. An automatic float controlled valve comp-rising the combination of avale, a lever to operate said valve, a guide for said lever, a float, asupporting rod therefor, said rod pivoted to said valve lever, a balancearm, said rod pivoted to said balance arm, and an adjustablecounterpoise on said balance arm.

2. An automatic float controlled valve, comprising the combination-of avalve, an

adjustable drain inlet for said valve, a lever to operate said valve, aguide for said lever, a float, a supporting rod therefon'said rodpivoted to said valve lever, a balance arm, said rod pivoted tosaid'balanee arm, and an adjustable counterpoise on. said balance arm.

3.- An automatic float controlled valve,

comprising the combination of a valve, an

adjustable drain inlet for said valve, meansto adjust said drain inlet,a lever to operate said valve, a guide for said lever, a float, asupporting rod therefor, said rod pivoted to said valve lever, a balancearm, said rod pivoted to said balance arm, and an adjustablecounterpoise on said balance arm.

4. An automatic float controlled valve, comprising the combiantion of avalve, an adjustable drain inlet for said valve, means to adjust saiddrain inlet, a lever to operate said valve, a guide for said lever, afloat, a supporting rod therefor, said rod pivoted to said valve lever,means to limit the move ment of said rod, a balance arm, said rodpivoted to said balance arm, and an adjustable counterpoise on saidbalance arm.

5. An automatic float controlled valve, comprising the combination of avalve, an adjustable drain inlet for said valve, means to adjust saiddrain inlet, a lever to operate said valve, a guide for said lever, afloat, a

supporting rod therefor, said float constructed to be adjustablypositioned on said rod, said rod pivoted to said valve lever,

" means to limit the movement of said rod, a

balance arm, said rod pivoted to said balance arm, and an adjustablecounterpoise on said balance arm.

6. The combination comprising a tank, a

supply inlet, a discharge outlet, an automatic float controlled valve,an adjustable drain inlet for said valve, means to adjust said draininlet, a lever to operate said valve, a guide for said lever, a float, asupporting rod therefor, said float constructed to be adjustablypositioned on said rod, said. rod pivoted to said valve lever, means tolimit the movement of said rod, a balance arm, said rod pivoted to saidbalance arm, and an adjustable counterpoise on said balance arm.

7. The combination comprising a tank, a supply inlet, a dischargeoutlet, a battle to distribute liquid from said supply inlet, anautomatic float controlled valve, an adjustable drain inlet for saidvalve, means to adjust said drain inlet, a lever to operate said valve,a guide for said lever, a float, a supporting rod therefor, said floatconstructed to be 'adjustably positioned on said rod, said rod pivotedto said valve lever, means to limit the movement of said rod, a balancearm, said rod pivoted to said balance arm, and an adjustablecounterpoise on said balance arm.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures.

GARY M. WHITNEY. JOHN F. FLETCHER.

